Last Tuesday, a Syracuse athletics employee tweeted a graphic revealing Dino Babers’ contract length for the first time. On Monday, Syracuse director of athletics John Wildhack reiterated Babers’ contract extension is “long-term,” but that tweet, which listed the extension through 2024, was “inaccurate.”

When asked directly if the contract extension was through 2024 as stated in the graphic tweeted last week, Wildhack said: “That tweet was incorrect. Inaccurate. Again, long-term extension.”

Wildhack didn’t confirm the contract extension was longer than 2024, either. He did however note that recruits now can expect to play for Babers.

The tweet also listed Carrier Dome renovations at $128 million, $10 million more than the number approved by the Syracuse Board of Trustees. Wildhack confirmed $118 million was the accurate number Syracuse is working under, not the $128 million tweeted.

Wildhack also discussed ticket sales for Syracuse’s upcoming football season, noting that single-game tickets for SU’s Sept. 14 home opener against defending national champion Clemson have sold out.

Further, more than 6,000 new season tickets have been purchased, up from around 2,300 a year ago, Wildhack said. The most season tickets SU has ever sold was 8,000 in 1998, Wildhack said. There are fewer than 4,500 packages remaining, according to an SU Athletics release and fewer than 300 left for first-level seats. The price for season tickets — $125 — stayed steady from last offseason.

“We never had a conversation about raising ticket prices,” Wildhack said. “We provide great value.”

Fans can still purchase three-game packages at a range of costs, including Clemson and two other games of their choosing. Packages with Clemson tickets are limited, Wildhack said.

The burgeoning sales are no surprise to Wildhack after SU’s historic 10-win 2018 season.  

“I think it’s clearly driven by success,” Wildhack said.

Published on May 6, 2019 at 12:23 pm

Contact Josh: jlschafe@syr.edu | @Schafer_44